Support San Francisco Zen Center now and in the future through a variety of giving options.

Join our Dharma Lamp Circle and leave a legacy that will help sustain and continue dharma teachings and practice for the benefit of generations to come.

Legacy gifts benefit both the donor and San Francisco Zen Center. The advantages to the donor are many—tax benefits, recognition and the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping to ensure our commitment to uphold the legacy left by Suzuki Roshi. Such gifts to Zen Center benefit our community by providing a reliable and steady flow of income, allowing us in turn, to make solid investments in our programming and practice centers for years to come.

San Francisco Zen Center is registered as a religious public charity. Contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

By including San Francisco Zen Center in your will, you can ensure that your generosity will continue in perpetuity. Zen Center promises to put your gift to the best possible use, in fulfilling our mission to make accessible and embody the wisdom and compassion of the Buddha, as determined by Zen Center’s spiritual leadership and our Board of Directors.

The tax laws of the United States are structured so that donors are encouraged to give as generously as possible to their favorite charitable organizations. Gifts of assets that have increased in value since their purchase can bring the following benefits to the donor.

You may find that gifts of retirement assets can save your heirs undue tax burdens and allow you to accomplish your charitable objectives. Unlike when bequeathing to individual heirs, when you bequeath retirement plan assets to San Francisco Zen Center, we will not have to pay income taxes on the assets. This will allow you to make a larger gift and possibly save other nontaxable assets for donation to your heirs.

Legacy giving is a term that covers all kinds of structured or deferred charitable gifts such as bequests (gifts from a person’s will), trusts and gifts of retirement benefits. These gifts benefit both Zen Center and you, while creating a legacy that will last for generations.